MICK McCarthy today insisted Wolves' must start afresh with the two-legged play-off semi final against Albion - with his own play-off experience and events of the regular season counting for nothing.

McCarthy has lost four out of five play-offs as manager at club and international level, but believes there is no secret formula to coming through the end-of-season lottery.

And by the same token, he believes whatever has happened with Wolves this season, and previous derbies with the old enemy, are also of no bearing.

"I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to the play-offs, no pattern you can find or something that happens in every one," said McCarthy.

"It's about a group of players just trying to perform on the day. I remember my last one, when Sunderland lost against Crystal Palace, and it almost seemed like a done deal.

"The decision at the end of it for their equaliser was incredible - and then the winning penalty was scored by Hughsie (Michael Hughes) who shouldn't have been on the pitch having committed a foul after they'd been booked. Palace deserved it for the run they had, but those decisions were just incredible.

"And I haven't got a Barney McGoo what happened to them in the final, I was feeling lousy and went off to America."

McCarthy continued: "And in the same way what has happened this season has no bearing on what is to come. We've just got to play how we played against Birmingham and West Brom at home, make sure we're at our best.

"There's not a lot between all the teams, it's just about who performs over the two games and then another if you get there."